Drug trafficking network busted with smuggling of narcotics

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

Kuwaiti authorities have dismantled a drug trafficking network responsible for smuggling, manufacturing, and distributing crystal methamphetamine by seizing 47 kilograms of narcotics and arresting suspects linked to cross-border operations involving Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The crackdown highlights enhanced regional cooperation and the use of advanced concealment tactics by traffickers, with ongoing efforts to target remaining members and prevent further drug circulation.

Kuwaiti authorities have dismantled a drug trafficking network involved in the smuggling, manufacturing, and distribution of narcotics, following a series of coordinated operations under the oversight of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef.

The Drug Control General Department (DCGD) intercepted approximately 47 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, locally referred to as “shabu,” along with 45 liters of raw liquid shabu, a key component used in producing psychotropic substances. The seizure took place at the Abdali border crossing during the arrest of a suspect arriving from Iraq. The narcotics were concealed within the chassis of the suspect’s vehicle, authorities said.

This apprehension followed an earlier arrest of another individual at his residence in Saad Al-Abdullah, where law enforcement discovered an illicit laboratory manufacturing shabu in a livestock pen in the Kabd area. The coordination between the DCGD and the General Administration of Customs played a pivotal role in executing a carefully planned ambush leading to the latest arrest.

Investigations revealed that the arrested individual frequently traveled overland to the Khorramshahr region in Iran to meet with a trafficker responsible for embedding drug shipments inside vehicles. Upon returning through Iraq, he would transfer the narcotics to the previously detained suspect, who then handled the processing and local distribution operations. The network reportedly transported drug shipments into Saudi Arabia as well, with the accused admitting to conducting more than two dozen smuggling runs over the past two years.

Authorities indicated that the traffickers used sophisticated concealment methods and a series of intermediaries to facilitate their operations. The suspects exploited land routes connecting Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia to move the narcotics discreetly.

The DCGD stated it remains committed to tracking down remaining members and affiliates of the network, dismantling their sources, and implementing further enforcement actions to protect public safety and security. The Ministry of Interior emphasized that these efforts align with broader measures to combat narcotics trafficking and safeguard the community from the harmful effects of illegal drugs.

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